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- UNrrED 'STATES' trice.

.PATENT CHARLES H. SMITH, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE O. B. NORTH dz COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,280, dated September 19, 1893. Application filed May 4, 1893. Serial No. 472,960. Y (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SMITH, of New Haven,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a rear elevation of a bridle-bit constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of one end of the mouth-bar, the ear being open, or in position to receive a cheek-piece; Fig. 4, a partial plan view ot' one end of one of the cheek-pieces; Fig. 5, a plan of one end of the mouth-bar and a cheekpiece in engagement therewith, said cheekpiece being in section; and Fig. 6, a broken end view showing the parts engaged, the ear on the end of the mouth-bar being in section.

My invention relates to bridle-bits, and has for its object to provide a novel, simple and economical bit, wherein the mouth-bar, or that portion which enters the mouth of the horse, is constructed at its ends with ears adapted to be bent or closed around the cheekpieces, and having, projecting from their engaging faces, tongues to engage corresponding grooves formed in said cheek-pieces.

To this end said invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings the reference letter A, designates the mouth-bar of my improved bit, which otherwise than as herein described, is of usual construction. At each end the mouthbar A is cast or formed with ears C, which are adapted to be bent or closed around the cheek-pieces B.

The reference letters a indicate short tongues projecting from the inner faces of the ears C at the bases thereof, and castor formed integral therewith and substantially midway the width thereof. Said ears are initially cast or formed open, as shown in Fig.

3 of the drawings, in order that the cheekpieces B may have ready entrance. At one side the cheek-pieces B, are provided with grooves h, which, when the ears C, are closed or bent about the cheek-pieces, receive or are engaged by the tongues d, thus forming a secure connection between the mouth-bar and the cheek-pieces in such manner that lateral movement and rattling of said cheek-pieces are effectually prevented, and which permits 'the cheek-pieces to be readily turned axially.

I prefer, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, to transversely recess the mouth-bar near its ends, adjacent to the ears C, to form seats a for the beveled free ends of said ears when closed or bent about the cheek-pieces, which construction affords a neat nish and tends to lend to the security of the connection.

It will be observed that the tongues a are higher adjacent to the seats a than at any other point, and that they taper gradually toward their inner ends and merge into the inner faces of the ears at a point about half way around the same. This construction permits the ears, which are cast open as has been mentioned, to be readily bent around the cheek-pieces. It also reduces the friction between the cheek-pieces and mouth-bar, and prevents the said parts from binding in use.

I am aware that it is not new in the construction of bridle-bits to provide the mouthbar and cheek-pieces with complementary tongues and grooves to hold them in right adjustment, and I do not claim such a construction broadly, but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein described bridle-bit, consisting of a mouth-bar A, provided at each of its ends with an initially open ear C, having a transverse recess c at its base and a tongue c, extending inward from the said recess about halfway around the inner face of the ear,and gradually tapering in depth from its outer to its inner end, and two cheek-pieces B, B, adapted to be inserted within the ears of the mouth bar, which are then closed around them, and each constructed with a groove b to receive the tongues a of the ears, substanspecification in the presence of two subscribtially as described, and whereby the tongues ing witnesses. and grooves prevent the cheek-pieces from lateral playin the said ears, which the form and 5 location ot' the tongues permit to be readily Witnesses;

closed upon the cheek-pieces. FRED O. EARLE,

In testimony whereof I have signed this LILLIAN D. KELSEY.

CHARLES H. SMITH. 

